Copper plumbing stolen from vacant Niagara Falls house

NIAGARA FALLS – Copper plumbing was among the items stolen in a burglary of a vacant house in the 1100 block of Ontario Avenue, police reported Wednesday.

A man told police that he had been watching the house for his nephew who is in jail. He said sometime between Sunday and Wednesday someone broke in, damaging the front door frame and lock, and then took the copper plumbing from a first-floor bathroom, damaging the drywall. Copper plumbing also was taken from the unoccupied second- and third-floor units, he told police.

In addition, a steel door was removed from its hinges in the basement and a hot water tank for the first floor was stolen.

Debris, including food, was thrown around on every floor, according to police.